Documentary on Alexandria Airs Sunday Night

A new WETA documentary, “Discovering Alexandria: The Early Years,” which premiered Thursday, re-airs Sunday at 7 p.m. on WETA-TV, according to a news release from Visit Alexandria.

Office of Historic Alexandria (OHA) Director J. Lance Mallamo will join the television premier festivities Thursday as an “on air” guest of WETA.

The WETA production staff utilized the holdings of the Library of Congress, National Archives, Alexandria Library and OHA in developing content for the current film, and shot on location at historic sites throughout the city, often interviewing Library and OHA staff as local history experts.

A year in the making, the film tells the story of Alexandria from its earliest origins through post-Civil War reconstruction, highlighting the city’s influential role in the U.S. Independence movement, and much more.

The film also features the emergence of the Washington and Lee families and showcases beloved local historic sites including the Carlyle House, Gadsby’s Tavern, the Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum and Christ Church.

WETA magazine says: “A new production created by WETA explores the extraordinary story of Alexandria, Virginia, a vibrant community richly steeped in history, bringing the past to life and examining the city’s outsized role in American history through the centuries.

The 90-minute documentary, “Discovering Alexandria” chiefly focuses on the community’s history and landmarks from the 17th through the 19th centuries; a second WETA production, slated for 2015, will pick up the story of Alexandria from the early part of the 20th century and up to the present.”

Additional air dates of “Discovering Alexandria: The Early Years” include Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 8 p.m., and Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 8 p.m. on WETA TV 26 and WETA HD.